Page 94 of Courting War
Kellyn’s heart sank because he’d unintentionally kept thissecret from Cecile. For whatever reason, Morrigan wanted to keep it from her, and Kellyn didn’t want to rattle his friend before a difficult challenge.
But had he made a mistake?
The gods spoke to the crowd and the four competitors, decreeing scores and critiquing their performance, but the four couldn’t focus, each processing Gallagher’s presence differently.
“How the fuck?” Emmett pulled all attention his way. His eyes latched onto Gallagher in all her glory.
Cecile let out a low whimper, caught by a phantom wind and echoed throughout the hall. A god was playing with them. Again.
“Good to see you again, Kellyn,” Gallagher said with a debonair grin. The gentle glow of the lava-coating walls reflected in her eyes, causing them to glint mockingly. “Cecile, did you know Kellyn and I have been strategizing about the games? After all, he is the Theoden champion.”
Gallagher was intentionally causing strife.
“You knew,” Cecile whispered out of the corner of her mouth, her eyes flashing with betrayal.
Kellyn’s stomach twisted into knots, and his heart beat to a song of an untuned harp. “Yes.” Kellyn hung his head. He should’ve warned Cecile. He was truly a shitty friend lately. First with Emmett and now with Cecile.
Where was his loyalty?
Cecile’s golden-brown curls bounced as she switched her attention to Morrigan, her mouth hanging open and her eyes coated with thick hurt. “Why?”
Morrigan gulped. “I’m sorry.”
“Have you missed me, lovely?” Gallagher’s voice was fairy bright, but she winked wickedly at Cecile, and in that wink was a pledge of violence or seduction. It was hard to tell with Gallagher.
Cecile jolted forward as if to attack, but Emmett and Kellyn grabbed her arms and held her back.
“You cannot attack a god,” Emmett said, biting on the words as if they were a foreign dish he didn’t know if he enjoyed. “She is a god, right?” he asked no one in particular.
Morrigan bit the inside of her cheek. “She’s Destruction, second in command of the War Court.”
“Oh shit, a god hates us.” Emmett’s eyes widened, and in a comforting gesture, he slid his fingers into the pockets of his ostentatious deep-purple suit.
“I don’t know.” Morrigan smiled, trying to lighten the mood. “I think she likes you.”
“She’s tried to kill us at least seven times,” Cecile hissed.
Morrigan flinched. “Antagonism is Gallagher’s form of affection.”
Emmett crossed his arms and glowered. “At least the War Court has finally decided to appear and help their champion for once.”
“True, but War herself couldn’t even be bothered to show up,” Kellyn said, his lips tightening.
“It’s probably for the best she didn’t show up.” Cecile’s eyes flicked to Morrigan, and her words were a guillotine. “She’d just disappoint you.”
I’m sorry.Morrigan mouthed again.
Nefeli cleared her throat and silenced the crowd, anger flowing from her aura like a physical force. “If you four can’t focus on us, leave without your clues.” She shooed them away.
“You cannot do that.” Morrigan stepped forward and raised her chin in defiance.
“Can’t I?” Nefeli raised a brow.
“Per rule twenty-three of the Sacrifice accords, the gods must give clues to the champions based on how they rate their performance inonly the previous event,not based on personal preference or performance outside of the events.” Morrigan quoted the rules precisely and gracefully, almost like she had written them.
Was something wrong with her, to face the gods like that? Or did she genuinely hold that much sway in the War Court? Maybe she was truly untouchable . . . much like Gallagher.
“Oh . . .” Nefeli’s lips lifted slowly like she was devouring a delicious cake. “I wasn’t aware you paid any attention to the rules.”
